Tool for applying connector bolts to hot lines



TOOL FOR APPLYING CONNECTOR BOLTS TO HOT LINES J. PAVELKA I Oct. 26, 1954 Filed May 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. PAVELKA Oct. 26, 1954 TOOL FOR APPLYING CONNECTOR BOLTS TO HOT LINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10 1950 Patented Oct. 26, 1954 TOOL FOR APPLYING CONNECTOR BOLTS T HOT LINES Joseph Pavelka, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Joseph Pavelka, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 10, 1950, Serial No. 161,084

14 Claims.

The invention relates to a tool for attaching a tap wire to an electric power line by means of a connector bolt, having a shank with a slot extending inwardly from its open end for receiving the line and wire, and a nut to be threaded onto the bolt for clamping the line and wire together.

The main object of the invention is to make it possible for an operator to place the tap wire alongside of a live high tension power line and then to move the line and wire inwardly between the legs of the slotted connector bolt and then apply the nut to the bolt, all without the operator coming in contact with the power line.

Another object is to facilitate the operation just referred to where the power line is at the usual height of such lines from above the ground and the workman is standing on the ground or the line is otherwise well beyond the reach of the operators hands.

Another object is to effect the operation referred to by a tool carried on the end of a single elongated support member which the workman may manipulate with both hands.

These and other detail objects are attained by the tool described below, reference being had to the accompanying drawnigs, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the tool head in operating position as applied to a power line and illustrates the manner of its manipulation by the operator positioned on the ground.

Figure 2 is a side view of the head, drawn to an enlarged scale, and sectioned in part and showing the head at the beginning of an operating shaft. Also shown is the operation extension by which the tool is supported and actuated to thread the nut onto the bolt.

Figure 3 is a front view of the head as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear View of the head as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 corresponds generally to Figure 2 but shows a connector bolt applied to the upper portion of the head and a nut and tap wire applied to the lower portion of the head.

Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 5 but shows the head applied to the power line and the nut moved into position to be threaded onto the bolt.

Figure '7 corresponds to Figure 6 but shows the nut threaded onto the bolt to clamp the power line and tap wire together. This represents the end of the operation except for the removal of the tool from the power line and the tap wire now secured thereto.

The power line is indicated at P, the tap wire at T, the tool head at H and the tool support and operating crank at K. The tool head embodies a frame including a base i, a standard 2, a cap 3 and an intermediate shelf 4, all rigid with each other. Movable vertically on standard 2 is a boxlike sliding chuck C with side plates 5, opposing the edges of the lower portion of standard 2, a bottom plate 5, and a top plate '3. Journaled but non-slidable in chuck C is'a shaft 8 having a square upper end projecting above the chuck top plate l" and mounting a detachable socket 8 which receives the connector bolt nut N. A gear it is supported in frame base i and is slidably keyed to shaft 8. A pinion I l, meshed with gear ii], is secured to a driving shaft 12 journaled in base i.

Pivotally mounted on frame cap 3 is a bolt holder comprising a pair of jaws i3, preferably geared to each other and including upstanding handles 14. A spring l5 yieldingly thrusts the jaws towards each other to engage and frictionally support the head of the connector bolt 13 (Figure 5).

Deep notches 15 in the upper ends of chuck side plates 5 form spaced seats for the tap wire T. Pivoted at Ed on side plates 5 is a yoke H, having forwardly extending legs i8 extending over notches H3. A clamp 19 on each side of yoke I? has a pin 2i) and slot 2! mounting on the yoke. Springs 22, seated against flanges 23 on the yoke and lugs 24 on clamps I53 thrust the clamps to the position on the yoke indicated in Figure 2. Each clamp has a toe 25 which is to the right of notches it when yoke ii is in the withdrawn position (Figure 2) but may be projected forwardly over the bottom of notches it when the yoke is advanced, as in Figures 1, 5, 6 and T.

Yoke ii and clamps is mounted thereon are advanced towards the upper ends of plates 5 and withdrawn therefrom by a toggle device including a link 26, pivoted at 27 to a bracket 28 on chuck C, and a link 29 pivoted at 39 to yoke ll. Links 25 and 29 are pivoted to each other at 32. Link 29 has a handle extension 35 by which it is manipulated manually. A detent rod 33 is pivoted to handle 3! and is slid-ably received in a box 3d pivoted at 35 to frame cap '3. A springpressed pawl 35 on box 34 is disposed to engage a tooth 33a on the detent rod to retain the rod, the toggle links and yoke ii in the position shown in Figure 2 or pawl 36 may be released by manual pressure upon its tail 3? to permit downward movement of rod 33 by manual pressure upon handle 3!, thereby swinging the toggle links from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figures 5, 6, and '7, in which the lower edge 38 of link handle 3i engages an opposing clevis-like element 39 on the upper end of link 25, thus limiting the toggle straightening movement. In this position the toggle joint has moved across a straight line extending between pivots 27 and 30 to lock the parts in the position shown in Figures 1, 5, 6, and 7.

This toggle lock may be released by upward manual pressure upon handle 3|, irrespective of the relative positions of the frame and .chuck, or by vertical movement of the frame and chuck from the relative position shown in Figures 1, 6, and 7 to the relative position shown in Figures 2 and 5. Such vertical movement may be effected by movement of the frame I, 2, 3, 4 upwardly while the chuck is stationary or by movement of the chuck downwardly while the frame is stationary or by a combination of upward and downward movements of the frame and chuck, respectively, relative to each other. Such relative movement of the frame and chuck may be effected whether the toggle is locked or unlocked and the movement is facilitated by the disengagement of detent 33 by pawl 36, as will be more fully explained below.

The tool head is supported and manipulated during application of the bolt and tap wire to an overhead wire by a single elongated pole 40, the upper end of which may be threaded on to the lower end of shaft I2 ormay terminate in an angular socket receiving a similarly angular terminal on shaft I2.

Operation-To effect the clamping of a tap wire T to a power line P, a workman inserts the head of a connector bolt B between jaws I3,

turning the bolt so that the sides of its slot extend parallel with the front of the tool head as shown in Figure 5. A corresponding nut N is inserted. in chuck socket 9 with the groove of its associated washer disposed parallel to the sides of the bolt slot. The end portion, or any other desired part of the tap wire, is then placed in notches I6. Pawl handle 3'! is depressed to release detent rod 33 and toggle handle 3| is moved downwardly to bring toes over the tap wire and to lock the toggle with the wire clamped beneath the toes as shown in Figure 5. Springs 22 yield after toes-25 first engage the tap wire to permit further movement of the toggle to locked position.

The tool head is then elevated by means of support 40 to a position adjacent a power line P, as indicated in broken lines in Figure 5. The

tool is then moved downwardly and forwardly to bring the power line into the solid line position shown in Figure 5, where it is received between the downwardly and forwardly inclined upper faces of toes 25 and the lower faces of legs I8. Support 40 and frame I, 2, 3, 4 are then lowered relative to chuck C, which is held by power line P against downward movement. During this lowering movement of suppQrt 40, the connector bolt slot receives power line P and tap wire T and fingers II depending from frame cap 3 pass in front of power line P (Figure 6) and detent pawl .36 slides down rod 33 and engages tooth 33a and inclinedupper edges .of toes 25 and, backedby fingers 4 I, presses clamps. I9. rearwardly,. against the thrust of; springs'22, disengaging. toes.25ifrom the tapwire and permitting linelR and wire' T D i 'thethreadingrmovement, line P rides down the to contact and then be pressed together, likely flattening their contacting surfaces somewhat as nut N is tightened on bolt B. This completes the clamping operation.

The workman then pushes support 40 and frame I, 2, 3, l upwardly. Corresponding movement of chuck .C is resisted by the weight and tension of the power line, thus breaking the toggle joint and the parts are returned to the position shown in Figure 2, the head of bolt B being drawn from the frictional grip of jaws I3 and'nut N being drawn out of socket 9, and the tool head may then be moved rearwardly and disengaged from the interconnected power line and tap wire unit.

Throughout the operation the workman has been free-to use both hands to manipulate the single support 40 to move the tool head into positions alongside and onto the power line and then to operate crank K. The small pinion II and relatively large gear Ii) afford a leverage facilitating the clamping of the wires between the bolt head and nut. The operator may utilize the weight and tension of the power line to effect disengagement of the tool from the assembled tap and power wires, bolt and nut instead of having to manipulate two elongated pole members as has been required in previous devices for making similar connections to high voltage lines.

Crank K is rotated in a left hand or anticlockwise direction while screwing nut N onto the right hand threads of bolt B and the resistance torques of the driving shaft gears and of the friction between the nut and bolt'threads will balance each other andthere will be no objectionable tendency of the tool to bend the power line from its normal direction or to rotate on the power line. Hence, if the connection between support 40 and shaft8 is a threaded connection, the threads should be left hand threads so that the support and driving shaft will thread onto each other during the bolt screwing operation.

Since jaws I3 swing to and from each other on'their pivots I 3a they will accommodate different sizes of bolt heads. Nut holder 9 is a removable socket which may be slipped off of the square upper end of shaft 8 and replaced with a larger or smaller socket for a different size nut.

The details of the construction may be varied substantially to accommodate different sizes of power lines and tap wires and different sizes of connector bolts and other conditions which do not affect the spirit of the invention. The exclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, a frame, a bolt holder and anut holder on said frame and normally spaced apart for positioning the bolt and nut with their axes aligned, said holders being movable towards and away from each other, means between said holders forreceiving the line, to which the tool is applied, transversely of said axes and for clamping a tap wire against said nut holder,

and a single elongatedmanually operable shaft with one end supporting said frame and rotatable therein from its opposite end and operatively connected with one of said holders to rotate the latteron said frame, said shaft being slidably connected to said clamping-means and .2. ;In;a.tool,for1 applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, a frame, a bolt holder on said frame for holding a connector bolt by its head, a rotatable nut holder on said frame, and normally spaced from said bolt holder, for positioning the bolt nut in alignment with the bolt axis, said holders being movable towards and away from each other, a clamp for holding a tap wire extending between said holders transversely of said axis, means between said holders for receiving the power line, to which the tool is applied, transversely of the bolt axis, and an elongated shaft paralleling said axis and forming the sole mounting for said frame and rotatable therein, and gearing between the shaft and another holder to rotate the latter in the opposite direction to the rotation of the shaft.

3. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, a frame, a bolt holder on said frame for holding the connector bolt by its head, a rotatable nut holder on said frame, and normally spaced from said bolt holder, for positioning the bolt nut in alignment with the bolt axis, said holders being movable towards and away from each other, a clamp for holding a tap wire extending between said holders transversely of said axis, means between said holders for receiving the power line, to which the tool is applied, transversely of the bolt axis, a gear slidable axially of but rotatably fixed to said nut holder, a shaft paralleling said axis and rotatable in said frame and provided with a pinion in mesh with said gear whereby the friction between the threads of a bolt and nut being tightened against wires between them tending to rotate the tool and bend the wire in one direction is counteracted by the thrust of the meshed gear teeth tending to rotate the tool and bend the wire in the opposite direction.

4. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, a frame, a part on said frame having a holder for holding the connector bolt by its head with the bolt axis extending longitudinally of the frame, a chuck slidable longitudinally of said frame to and from said bolt holder-and having a holder for positioning the bolt nut in alignment with the bolt axis, a shaft journaled on said frame for rotating said nut holder relative to said bolt holder, notches in said chuck at opposite sides of said nut holder and opening away from said holder for receiving a tap wire, clamping jaws mounted on said chuck at one side of said nut holder and movable towards and away from a position over the open ends of said notches, springs thrusting said jaws towards said position, and legs pivoted on said chuck and operatively connected to said jaws to release the latter when the legs are lifted, said legs extending over said jaws for engaging a power line to lift the legs upon manual pull on said shaft greater than the spring thrust on said jaws.

5. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, a frame, a part on said frame having a holder for holding the connector bolt by its head with the bolt axis extending downwardly, a chuck slidable vertically on said frame to and from said holder and having a holder for holding the bolt nut in alignment with the bolt axis, a shaft journaled on said frame for rotating said nut holder relative to said bolt holder, upwardly opening notches in said chuck at opposite sides of and above said nut holder for receiving a tap wire, wire-clamping jaws mounted on said chuck to move forwardly over said notches and rearwardly away from said notches, springs thrusting said jaws forwardly, the tops of said jaws being inclined forwardly and downwardly, legs on said chuck extending over the inclined tops of said jaws for engaging a power line between said legs and jaws, the spring thrust on said jaws yielding to positive thrust by a line pressed against the inclined tops of said jaws to accommodate rearward movement of said jaws as said holders are moved together with a power line and a tap wire between them.

6. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, a frame, a part on said frame having a holder for holding the connector bolt by its head with the bolt axis extending downwardly, a chuck slidable vertically on said frame to and from said holder and having a holder for holding the bolt nut in alignment with the bolt axis, a shaft journaled on said frame for rotating said nut holder relative to said bolt holder, upwardly opening notches in said chuck at opposite sides of and above said nut holder for receiving a tap wire, wire-clamping jaws mounted on said chuck to move forwardly over said notches and rearwardly away from said notches, springs thrusting said jaws forwardly, the tops of said jaws being inclined forwardly and downwardly, legs on said chuck extending over the inclined tops of said jaws for engaging a power line to support the tool against manual pull greater than the spring thrust on said jaws, a spring thrust toggle device holding said legs and jaws over said notches and yielding to positive downward pull on said frame to permit said jaws and legs to move away form said notches.

7. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, a frame, a member thereon for holding the connector bolt by its head, a chuck slidable on the frame to and from said member, a nut holder on the chuck and normally spaced from said member, for positioning the bolt nut in alignment with the bolt axis, said member and holder being movable towards and away from each other, a tap wire clamp means and a projection on said means between said member and holder for engaging a power line, to which the tool bolt and nut are to be applied, with the line extending transversely of the bolt axis, and a shaft for moving the holder and member against each other and rotatable on the holder, a toggle comprising interconnected links pivoted to said holder and to said clamp means, a releasable detent holding one of said links to said frame to break the joint of such toggle when said frame is moved relative to the power line and the chuck supported thereon.

8. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, a frame, a part on said frame for holding the connector bolt by its head with the bolt axis extending longitudinally of the frame, a chuck slidable on the frame to and from said bolt holder and including a nut holder for securing the bolt nut in alignment with the bolt axis, a shaft journaled on said chuck for rotating said nut holder relative to said part, notches in said chuck at opposite sides of and above said nut holder for receiving a tap wire, spring thrust jaws mounted on said chuck to move said jaws towards and away from said notches, and legs pivoted on said chuck and extending over said notches for engaging a power line to support the tool, a toggle mechanism comprising links pivoted to said nut holder and to said legs, respectively, a spring holding the toggle links in locked position, one of said links having a handle, and a detent rod pivoted to said 7 handle and slidable on said frame, there being cooperating detent notch and .pawl elements on said rod and frame.

9. In a tool of the class described,a head,'a bolt holder and a nut holder with a common axis corresponding to'the axis of a bolt and nut to be held thereby, said holders being movable towards and away from each other lengthwise of said axis and being rotatable relative to each other about said axis, and a single elongated support mounting said head and rotatable thereon and operatively connected to one of said holders to effect relative rotation of the holders.

10. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, a frame, a chuck slidable thereon, a bolt holder and a nut holder on the frame and chuck respectively, an element pivoted on the chuck to swing to a position overlying and spaced from the nut holder on the chuck and to a position clearing the nut holder, there being a part between the nut holder and said element to receive a tap wire and a power line when said element is in said first-mentioned position, and means thrusting said element towards said part to clamp the tap wire to said part.

11. In a tool for applying aconnector boltand nut to a power line, a frame member, a vertically elongated supporting and operating shaftrotatable butnon-slidably assembled with said frame.

member, a chuck member-slidable on saidframe member, a bolt holder on theframemember-and a nut holder on the chuck membergsaidholders being spaced apart one below the other-and being rotatable relative to each other and having longitudinal axes in alinement, a downwardly facing element on the chuck member spaced above the nut holder thereon for engaging a power line to support the chuck member during downward movement of the frame member and operating shaft, a latch on the frame member engaging an element of the chuck member when said members are moved to position said holders relatively close to each other, elements on the chuck member movable towards each other to clamp a tap wire between them, a yielding structure holding said elements in wire clamping relation and releasable by downward movement of the frame by the operating shaft relative to the chuck.

12. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, a frame member, a chuck member slidable thereon, a bolt holder on the one member, a nut holder on the other member, said holders being axially alined and relatively movable axially and rotatably, the chuck member normally assuming a position on the frame with said holders spaced apart, a manually operable toggle device including a projection, the toggle device-being movable tomanually locked position and .to-move said projection over and spaced above the holder on the'chuck member, and the toggle device being unlocked by opposite movement of said projection, and a single elongated -manually-operable shaft with its upper end attached to the frame to raise and lower it and being rotatable on the frame and operatively connected to the holder on the chuck member to rotate it relative to the holder on the frame .member.

13. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut toan overhead line, a frame including a base, spaced devices on said frame for holding respectively the head of a connector bolt and its nut, wire clamping membersmounted on said frame between andnormally spaced from said devices, a toggle structure for moving said members towardseach other and, when locked, holding them adjacent each other, an elongated support for said base and rotatable thereon and connected :to one of said devices to rotate the same,'said toggle structure being unlocked by axial movement of said support against the resistance afforded by a wire clamped by said members.

14. In a tool of the class described, a head, a bolt holder and a nut holder with a common axis corresponding to the axis of a bolt and nut to be held thereby, said holders being movable towards and away from each other lengthwise of said axis, one of said holders being slidable on but held against rotation on said head and the other of said holders being rotatable relative thereto, a single elongated support shaft, a gear -on one of said holders, a gear on said shaft, said gears being directly meshed with each other,

said shaft being journaled in said head but being held against sliding lengthwise thereof, and a projection associated with said head for engaging over a power line to support the weight of the tool independently of said elongated support shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 802,588 Parks et al Oct. 24, 1905 1,042,736 Wildmo Oct. 29, 1912 1,777,395 Coon Oct. 7, 1930 1,955,347 Sherman Apr. 17, 1934 2,002,981 Halladay May 28, 1935 2,220,314 Blackburn NOV. 5, 1940 2,451,117 Price Oct. 12, 1948 2,478,886 De Swart Aug. 9, 1949 2,505,186 Hubbard Apr. 25, 1950 2,556,663 Smalley June 12, 1951 

